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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF. CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 

MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arcinive 

in  2008  witii  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.arcliive.org/details/constitutionlawsOOuniorich 


CONSTITUTION  AND  LiWS 


Mmm  ilkatojicd  ^pirrarg 


CITY  OF  NEW  YORK, 

FOUNDED   ON   TFIE    18tii   OF  JANUARY,  A.  D.   1886, 

WITH    AMENDMENTS    TO    FEBRUARY,    1875. 


CONSTITUTION  AND  LAWS 


UNIfli  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


CITY   OF  NEW  YORK, 


FOUNDED  ON  THE  18th  OF  JANUARY,  A.  D.  1836 ; 


AS  REVISED  m  AMENDED,  A.  D.  1875. 


NEW    YOKK: 

JOHN    F.     TROW    &    SON,     PRINTERS, 
205-213  EAST  TWELFTH  STREET. 
1875. 


KVHc^d 


CONSTITUTION,  ETC.         /^^^ 


PEEAMBLE. 

That  the  design  of  the  Founders  of  this  Seminary  may  be  publicly 
known,  and  be  sacredly  regarded  by  the  Directors,  Professors  and  Stu- 
dents, it  is  judged  proper  to  make  the  following  preliminary  statement : 

A  number  of  Christians,  both  clergymen  and  laymen  in  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Brooklyn,  deeply  impressed  with  the  claims  of  the  world 
upon  the  Church  of  Christ  to  furnish  a  competent  supply  of  well-educated 
and  pious  ministers  of  the  Gospel ;  impressed  also  with  the  inadequacy  of 
all  existing  means  for  this  purpose  ;  and  believing  that  large  cities  furnish 
many  peculiar  facilities  and  advantages  for  conducting  theological  educa- 
tion ;  having,  after  several  meetings  for  consultation  and  prayer,  again 
convened  on  the  18th  of  January,  A.D.  1836,  unanimously  adopted  the 
following  resolution  and  declarations : 

§  1.  Resolved,  in  humble  dependence  on  the  grace  of  God,  to  attempt 
the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Seminary  in  the  City  of  New  York. 

§  2.  In  this  Institution  it  is  the  design  of  the  Founders  to  furnish  the 
means  of  a  full  and  thorough  education,  in  aU  the  subjects  taught  in  the 
best  Theological  Seminaries  in  this  or  other  countries. 

§  3.  Being  fully  persuaded  that  vital  godliness,  a  thorough  education, 
and  practical  training  in  the  works  of  benevolence  and  pastoral  labor,  are 
all  essential  to  meet  the  wants  and  promote  the  best  interests  of  tiie  kino-- 
dom  of  Christ,  the  Founders  of  this  Seminary  design  that  its  students,  re- 
maining under  pastoral  influence,  and  performing  the  duties  of  church 
members  in  the  several  churches  to  which  they  belong,  or  with  which 
they  worship,  in  prayer-meetings,  in  the  instruction  of  Sabbath-schools 
and  Bible-classes,  and  being  conversant  with  all  the  benevolent  efforts  of 
the  present  day  in  this  great  community,  shall  have  the  opportunity  of 
adding  to  solid  learning  and  true  piety  the  teachings  of  experience. 

§  4.  By  the  foregoing  advantages,  the  Founders  iiope  and  expect,  with 
the  blessing  of  God,  to  call  forth  and  enlist,  in  the  service  of  Christ  and  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  genius,  talent,  enlightened  piety  and  missionary 
zeal ;  and  to  qualify  many  for  the  labors  and  management  of  the  various 
religious  institutions,  seminaries  of  learning,  and  enterprises  of  benevo- 
lence, which  characterize  the  present  times. 

§  5.  In  short,  it  is  the  design  of  the  Founders  to  provide  a  Theological 
Seminary  in  the  midst  of  the  greatest  and  most  growing  community  in  the 
United  States,  which  may  commend  itself  to  all  men  of  moderate  views  and 
feelings,  who  desire  to  live  free  from  party  strife,  and  to  stand  aloof  from 
all  extremes  of  doctrine  or  of  practice. 

ivi367555 


ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 

An  Act  to  incorporate  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  the  City  of  New 
York— Passed  March  27ih,  1839.* 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate  and  Assem- 
bly, do  enact  as  follows  : 

§  1.  Thomas  McAuley,  Henry  Wliite,  Samuel  H..  Cox,  Thomas  H.  Skin- 
ner, William  Patton,  ErskJnc  Mason,  Ichabod  S.  Spencer,  Absalom  Peters, 
William  Adams,  Nathanael  E.  Johnson,  Henry  A.  Rowland,  David  Magie, 
Ansel  D.  Eddy,  Selah  B.  Treat,  Zechariah  Lewis,  Micah  Baldwin,  Charles 
Butler,  Leonard  Corning,  A))ijah  Fisher,  William  M.  Halsted,  Caleb  O. 
Halsted,  Fisher  Howe,  Richard  T.  Haines,  Joseph  Otis,  Anson  G.  Phelps, 
Pelatiah  Perit,  Cornelius  Baker,  and  Knowles  Taylor,  and  their  associates, 
who  are  the  present  Directors,  and  their  successors,  are  hereby  constitutec 
a  body  corporate  by  the  name  of  "  The  Union  Theological  Seminary  ii 
the  City  of  New  York  ;  "  and  by  that  name  shall  have  succession,  and  b< 
capable  in  law  of  taking  and  holding  by  gift,  grant  and  devise,  or  other 
wise,  and  of  purchasing  and  holding  and  conveying,  both  in  law  and 
equity,  any  estate,  real  or  personal ;  provided,  that  the  clear  annual  value 
or  income  of  their  real  estate  should  not  exceed  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand 
dollars ;  and  their  personal  estate  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  exclusive  of  such  Professorships  as  may  be  from  time  to  timt 
endowed. 

§  2.  The  government  of  the  Seminary  shall  at  all  times  be  vested  in  a 
Board  of  Directors,  which  shall  consist  of  twenty-eight  members ;  one-halJ 
of  whom  shall  be  clergymen,  and  the  other  half  laymen. 

§  8.  The  Board  of  Directors  already  chosen  shall  be  divided  into  four 
classes,  to  be  numbered  one,  two,  three  and  four ;  the  term  of  the  firsi 
class  shall  expire  in  "one,  the  second  in  two,  the  third  in  three,  and  the 
fourth  in  four  years  from  the  eighteenth  of  January  last.  The  following 
persons  shall  be  Directors  of  the  first  class :  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  William 
Adams,  Samuel  H.  Cox,  Selah  B.  Treat,  Abijah  Fisher,  Joseph  Otis,  Caleh 
O.  Halsted,  and  Leonard  Corning.  Of  the  second  class :  William  Patton, 
Ichabod  S.  Spencer,  Henry  White,  David  Magie,  Pelatiah  Perit,  Charles 
Butler,  and  Micah  Baldwin.  Of  the  third  class  :  Henry  A.  Rowland,  Ab- 
salom Peters,  Nathanael  E.  Johnson,  Fisher  Howe,  Richard  T.  Haines, 
William  M.  Halsted,  and  Anson  G.  Phelps.  Of  the  fourth  class  :  Thomas 
McAuley,  Ansel  D.  Eddy,  Erskine  Mason,  Zechariah  Lewis,  Knowles  Tay- 
lor, and  Cornelius  Baker.  Each  class  of  Directors  shall  hereafter  be 
chosen  for,  and  hold  their  offices  during,  four  years,  and  until  a  new  elec- 
tion to  supply  the  ijlaces  of  such  class. 

*  Accepted  by  a  vote  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Dec.  80th,  1839. 


>  4.  The  members  of  any  class  of  Directors  may  be  eligible  to  a  re-elec- 
1 ;  and  each  election  shall  take  place  at  least  one  week  previous  to  the 
H  expiration  of  the  term  of  office  of  the  class  to  be  supplied.  And  the  said 
Directors  sliall  have  power  to  fill  all  vacancies  in  their  own  Board,  which 
may  happen  from  year  to  year;  and  the  appointment  to  fill  such  vacancy 
shall  be  valid  for  the  unexpired  term  of  the  Director  whose  office  shall  be 
vacant. 

§  5.  Equal  privileges  of  admission  and  instruction,  with  all  the  advan- 
tages of  the  Institution,  shall  be  allowed  to  students  of  every  denomination 
of  Christians. 

§  6.  The  Legislature  may  at  any  time  alter  or  repeal  this  act. 


CHARTER  AMENDMENT  No.  1. 

An  Act  to  amend  the  Charter  of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  the  City 

of  New  York. — Passed  May  1st,  1865. 
The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate  and  Assembly, 
do  enact  as  follows : 

§  1.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  the  City  of 
New  York,  subject  to  existing  laws,  to  take  and  hold,  by  gift,  grant  or 
devise  or  otherwise,  and  to  purchase,  hold  and  convey,  any  estate,  real  or 
personal ;  provided  that  the  clear  annual  value  or  income  of  their  real  estate 
shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  their  personal 
estates  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  exclu- 
sive of  the  Library,  and  of  such  Professorships  and  Scholarships  as  may  be, 
from  time  to  time,  endowed. 

§  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately.  * 


CHARTER  AMENDMENT   NO.   2.— PASSED  APRIL  1,  1870. 

§  1.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  the  City  of 
New  York  to  take  and  hold  by  gift,  grant  or  devise  or  otherwise,  subject 
to  all  the  provisions  of  law  relating  to  devises  and  bequests  by  last  Will 
and  Testament,  and  to  purchase  hold  and  convey  any  estate,  real  or  per- 
sonal, for  the  purposes  of  their  said  incorporation;  provided  that  their 
personal  estate  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
exclusive  of  the  Library,  and  of  such  Professorships,  Scholarships  and 
Lectureships  as  may  be  from  time  to  time  endowed. 

§  2.  The  government  of  the  Seminary  shall  at  all  times  be  vested  in  a 
Board  of  Directors,  which  shall  consist  of  not  less  than  twenty- eight  mem- 
bers, one-half  of  whom  shall  be  clergymen  and  the  other  half  laymen. 

§  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


A^IEND^rENT  NO.  8.— PASSED  MAY  11,  1874. 

§  1.  Tlie  limitotion  of  tlie  amount  of  personal  property  which  the  "  Union 
Theological  Seminary  in  the  City  of  New  York"  is,  by  existing  Statutes, 
authorizetl  to  acquire,  hold,  and  dispose  of,  is  hereby  increased  from  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  to  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  exclusive  of 
the  Library,  and  of  such  Professorships,  Scholarships  and  Lectureships, 
or  otlier  offices  connected  with  the  Educational  Department  of  the  Semi- 
nary as  are  now  or  may  hereafter  be,  from  time  to  time,  endowed. 

§  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


constitutio:n^. 

ARTICLE  1. 

Directoim 

§  1.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Director  unless  he  be 
a  minister  or  member  in  good  standing  of  some  evangelical  church,  receiv- 
ing the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  as  adopted  by  the  Presbyterian 
churches  in  this  country. 

§  2.  Every  Director,  on  entering  upon  his  office  and  also  after  each  re* 
election,  shall  make  the  following  declaration  in  the  presence  of  the 
Board,  viz. : 

"  Approving  of  the  plan  and  Constitution  of  the  Union  Theological  Sem- 
inary in  the  City  of  New  York,  and  of  the  Westminster  Confession  of 
Faith,  and  the  Presbyterian  Form  of  Church  Government,  I  do  solemnly 
promise  to  maintain  the  same,  so  long  as  I  shall  continue  to  be  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Directoi-s." 

§  3.  In  order  to  carry  out  the  powers  vested  in  them  by  the  Act  of 
Incorporation,  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  authority  to  make  their 
own  By-Laws ;  hold,  manage  and  disburse  the  funds  of  the  Seminary ; 
appoint  all  Officers,  Professors  and  Teachers ;  fix  their  salaries,  determine 
their  duties  ;  make  laws  for  the  regulation  and  government  of  the  Institu- 
tion ;  and,  in  general,  to  adopt  all  such  measures,  not  inconsistent  with 
the  provisions  of  the  said  Act  and  of  this  Constitution,  as  the  interests  of 
the  Seminary  may  require. 

§  4.  The  Board  shall  inaugurate  the  Professors,  or  any  Officers  of  the 
Seminary,  in  such  manner  as  tliey  may  deem  expedient ;  shall  watch  over 
the  fidelity  of  all  who  may  1>e  employed  in  giving  instruction ;  shall  judge 
of  their  competency,  doctrine  and  morals ;  and  shall  have  power,  on  suf- 


ficient  evidence  that  the  interests  of  the  Seminary  so  require,  to  remove 
any  Officer,  Professor  or  Teacher  from  office.  The  Board  shall  also  exer- 
cise a  paternal  supervision  over  the  whole  Seminary,  and  shall  inspect  the 
discipline  of  the  Faculty  over  the  students. 

§  5.  Seven  members,  at  any  meeting  of  the  Board  regularly  convened, 
shall  be  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  all  ordinaiy  business,  excepting 
the  purchase  and  conveyance  of  real  estate^he  investment  of  funds,  the 
appointment  and  removal  of  any  member  oi  the  Faculty  or  jjermanent 
Teacher,  and  fixing  of  their  salaries;  which  acts  shall' require  an  affirm- 
ative vote  of  not  less  than  fifteen. 

§  6.  The  Board  shall  annually  elect  from  its  own  number  by  ballot,  and 
as  often  as  may  be  necessary,  a  President  of  the  Board,  a  Vice-President, 
a  Recorder  and  a  Treasurer,  who  shall  hold  their  offices  until  others  are 
elected,  and  whose  duties  shall  be  prescribed  in  the  By-Laws.  The  Treas- 
urer shall  give  his  bond,  with  securities  satisfactory  to  the  Board,  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties. 

§  7.  The  Board  may  annually  appoint  from  its  own  number  an  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  seven,  including  the  Recorder,  who  shall  also  be  Clerk 
of  the  Committee.  Four  members  shall  be  a  quorum,  and  the  Committee 
may  transact  all  business  not  requiring  an  affirmative  vote  of  fifteen,  dur- 
ing the  recesses  of  the  Board.  They  shall  keep  full  minutes  of  all  their 
doings,  and  report  the  same  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board  for  its  ap- 
proval, 

§  8.  The  Board  may  annually  appoint  from  its  own  number  a  Finance 
Committee  of  five  persons,  of  which  the  President,  Vice-President  and 
Treasurer  shall  be  ex-officio  members,  who  shall  see  to  the  collection,  ap- 
plication and  investment,  as  ordered  by  the  Board,  of  all  moneys  sub- 
scribed for  or  belonging  to  the  Seminary.  They  shall  keep  minutes  of 
their  proceedings,  and  report  the  same  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board 
for  its  approval.  They  shall  also  report  to  the  Board  in  writing,  at  the  an- 
nual meeting,  and  at  such  other  times  as  the  Board  may  require,  the  state 
of  the  finances  of  the  Seminary. 

§  9.  The  Board  may  annually  elect  Honorary  Members,  not  exceeding 
twenty-five  in  number — for  the  term  of  one  year ;  who  may  take  part  in  the 
discussions  of  the  Board,  and  serve  on  temporary  committees,  but  shall 
have  no  vote. 

§  10.  The  Board  shall  hold  at  least  four  stated  meetings  in  each  year ; 
and  may  meet  as  often  on  their  own  adjournment,  or  at  the  call  of  the  pre- 
siding officer  or  Executive  Committee,  as  may  be  deemed  expedient.  The 
absence  of  any  member  of  the  Board  from  three  consecutive  meetings, 
without  excuse,  shall  be  construed  as  equivalent  to  a  resignation. 


ARTICLE  II. 

The  Faoalty. 

§  1.  The  Faculty  shall  consist  of  the  Professors  of  the  Seminary,  who 
Bhall  be  ordained  ministci-s  of  the  Gospel ;  one  of  whom  may,  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Board,  sustain  the  office  of  President. 

§  2.  Every  member  of  the  Faculty  shall,  on  entering  upon  his  office,  and 
triennially  thereafter,  or  when  required  by  tlie  Board,  so  long  as  he  re- 
mains in  office,  make  and  subscribe  the  following  declaration  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Board,  viz. : 

"  I  believe  tlie  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  to  be  the  Word 
of  God,  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice ;  and  I  do  now,  in 
the  presence  of  God  and  the  Directors  of  this  Seminary,  solemnly  and  sin- 
cerely receive  and  adopt  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith,  as  contain- 
ing the  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  I  do  also,  in 
like  manner,  approve  of  the  Presbyterian  Form  of  Government ;  and  I  do 
solemnly  promise,  that  I  will  not  teach  or  inculcate  anything  which  shall 
appear  to  me  to  be  subversive  of  the  said  system  of  doctrine,  or  of  the 
principles  of  said  Form  of  Government,  so  long  as  I  shall  continue  to  be 
a  Professor  in  the  Seminary." 

§  3.  If  any  Professor  shall  refuse,  at  the  stated  time,  or  when  required 
by  tlie  Board,  to  repeat  the  above  declaration,  he  shall  forthwith  cease  to 
be  a  Professor  in  the  Institution. 

§  4.  The  Faculty  shall  have  the  immediate  care  and  inspection  of  the 
students,  and  shall  execute  the  laws  of  the  Seminary;  subject  to  the 
advice  and  control  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  They  shall  admit  and  dis- 
miss students ;  discipline  the  disorderly ;  determine  the  daily  duties  of 
the  students;  and  exercise  a  paternal  care  over  all  the  members  of  the 
Seminary. 

§  5.  A  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Faculty  shall  be  a  quorum.  They 
shall  fix  the  time  and  manner  of  their  own  meetings ;  make  their  own  By- 
Laws  ;  keep  a  fair  record  of  their  proceedings ;  and  exhibit  the  same  to 
the  Board  of  Directors,  or  to  the  Executive  Committee,  whenever  required ; 
and  shall  annually  report  to  the  Board  the  State  of  the  Seminary  and  of 
the  several  departments. 

§  6.  The  members  of  the  Faculty,  with  the  exception  of  the  President, 
shall  not  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Directors. 

§  7.  Any  member  of  the  Faculty,  intending  to  resign  his  office,  shall 
give  in  writing  at  least  three  months  notice  of  such  intention  to  the  Board 
of  Directors,  or  to  the  Executive  Committee ;  which  notice  shall  be  duly 
entered  upon  their  minutes.  And  no  member  of  the  Faculty  shall  absent 
himself  from  his  place  or  station  at  the  commencement  of  the  academic 
year  without  the  consent  of  the  Board  of  Directoi-s,  or  of  the  Executive 
Committee. 


ARTICLE  III. 

Instruction. 

§  1.  The  regular  course  of  instruction  and  study  in  the  Seminary  shall 
occupy  at  least  three  full  years,  and  shall  ordinarily  comprise  the  follow- 
ing branches,  viz.:  The  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  original  tongues ;  Biblical 
Literature  and  Interpretation ;  Systematic  Theology ;  Ecclesiastical  History 
and  Polity ;  Sacred  Rhetoric ;  Pastoral  Theology ;  and  such  other  sub- 
jects as  the  Board  of  Directors  may  prescribe. 

§  2,  The  regular  instruction  of  the  students  shall  be  given  by  the  Pro- 
fessors, and  by  such  other  persons  as  the  Board  of  Directors  may  appoint. 
And  no  person  shall  be  permitted  to  teach  or  to  lecture  in  the  Seminary 
without  the  consent  of  the  Faculty  and  the  concurrence  of  the  Executive 
Committee. 

§  3,  The  Board  may  annually  designate,  from  its  own  members.  Pro- 
fessors Extraordinary  in  the  various  departments  of  theological  science ; 
who  may  then  give  instruction  in  the  Seminary  in  concurrence  with  the 
Faculty. 

ARTICLE    IV. 

Students. 

§  1.  This  Seminary  shall  be  open  for  the  admission  of  students  of  the 
requisite  qualifications  from  every  denomination  of  Christians. 

§  2.  No  student  shall  be  matriculated,  unless  he  present  to  the  Faculty 
satisfactory  testimonials  of  his  personal  piety  and  good  standing  in  some 
evangelical  church,  and,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  unless  he  furnish 
satisfactory  evidence  of  his  having  had  a  regular  college  education,  or 
submit  to  an  examination  by  the  Faculty  on  the  branches  usually  taught 
in  such  a  course. 

§  3.  No  student  shall  be  admitted  with  a  view  to  pursue  any  other  than 
the  regular  and  full  course  of  theological  study,  nor  be  dismissed  with  a 
view  to  abridge  his  full  course,  except  in  extraordinary  cases,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  Faculty. 

§  4.  Every  student,  at  his  matriculation,  shall  make  and  subscribe  the 
following  declaration,  in  the  presence  of  the  Faculty,  viz.  : 

"  Deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  my  duty  to  God  and  to  this  Semi- 
nary, I  do  solemnly  declare  my  intention  of  pursuing  a  three  years'  course 
of  theological  study ;  and  do  promise,  so  long  as  I  shall  remain  a  member 
of  this  Seminary,  to  attend  faithfully  to  all  the  duties  and  instructions  of 
the  regular  course ;  to  observe  all  the  laws ;  to  yield  ready  obedience  to 
the  requisitions  of  the  Faculty  and  the  Board  of  Directors ;  and  to  observe 
and  do,  according  to  my  best  knowledge,  all  other  things  pertaining  to 
my  relations  as  a  student  of  theology." 


10 

§  5.  The  students  shall  be  divided,  according  to  the  respective  years  of 
the  course,  into  Junior,  Middle  and  Senior  Classes. 

§  6.  Students  may  at  any  time  be  admitted  into  either  of  the  classes, 
provided  they  shall  be  found  qualified  by  the  Faculty,  on  actual  examina- 
tion. Students  from  other  Theological  Seminaries,  regularly  dismissed  in 
good  standing,  may  be  admitted  into  this  Seminary  ad  eundem, 

%  7.  No  society  or  association  shall  be  formed  by  or  among  the  students, 
while  belonging  to  the  Seminary,  without  the  permission  of  the  Faculty 
and  the  concurrence  of  the  Executive  Committee. 


ARTICLE    V. 

Library. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  take  measures  for  the  due  preservation  and 
enlargement  of  the  Library;  enact  laws  for  the  safe  keeping,  use  and 
management  of  the  same ;  appoint  a  Librarian,  and  prescribe  his  duties. 

ARTICLE    VI. 

Professorships. 

The  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  shall  be  deemed  requisite  for  the 
founding  of  a  Professorship  in  this  Institution  ;  but  any  person  or  persons 
who  shall  pay  into  the  treasury,  or  bequeath  by  will,  the  sum  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars  or  more  for  this  purpose,  shall  have  the  privilege  of 
naming  the  Professorship. 


ARTICLE    VII. 

Scholarships. 

Any  person  or  persons  who  shall  pay  into  the  treasury,  or  bequeath  by 
will,  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  or  more  for  the  purpose  of  found- 
ing a  Scholarship,  shall  have  the  privilege,  not  only  of  naming  such 
Scholarship,  but  also  of  nominating,  during  his  or  their  lifetime,  the 
beneficiaries  who  are  to  be  placed  upon  said  foundation. 

ARTICLE   VIII. 

Donations   and  Endowments. 

All  devises,  subscriptions  and  donations  to  the  funds  of  the  Seminary 
shall  sacredly  be  considered  as  made  to  uphold  and  teach  i\iQ  doctrinal 
basis  contained  in  Article  L,  Section  2,  and  in  Article  II.,  Section  2,  of 
this  Constitution. 


11 

ARTICLE  IX. 

Amendments^of  the  Constitution. " 

§  1 .  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power,  at  any  meeting  regularly 
convened,  to  make  any  amendment  to  this  Constitution,  not  inconsistent 
with  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  or  with  the  doctrinal  basis  contained  in 
Article  I.,  Section  2,  and  Article  II.,  Section  2,  of  this  Constitution;  pro- 
vided the  said  amendment  shall  have  been  proposed  at  a  previous  meeting, 
and  shall  be  passed  by  an  affirmative  vote  of  not  less  than  fifteen. 

§  2.  All  articles  and  provisions  of  the  former  Constitution  of  this  Semi- 
nary, not  embodied  in  this  present  Constitution,  are  hereby  abrogated. 


BY-LAWS 


BOARD   OF   DIRECTORS. 


§  1 .  The  President  of  the  Board,  or  in  his  absence  the  Vice-President,  shall 
preside  at  every  meeting  of  the  Directors.  In  the  absence  of  both  these 
officers,  the  Board  may  appoint  a  President  pro  tempore. 

§  2.  The  Recorder  shall  keep  a  fair  record  of  all  the  doings  of  the  Board ; 
file  and  preserve  all  important  papers ;  give  due  notice  to  the  members  of  the 
Board  and  to  the  Faculty  of  all  meetings  of  the  Board,  whether  stated,  adjourned 
or  special ;  and  do  whatever  else  may  properly  belong  to  his  office, 

§  3.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys,  and  invest  or  disburse  them  in 
such  manner  as  the  Board  or  Finance  Committee  may  direct.  He  shall  keep 
a  regular  account,  and  exhibit  the  same  to  the  Board,  duly  audited,  at  the  first 
stated  meeting  in  each  year ;  and  shall  further  give  information  of  the  state 
of  the  treasury  to  the  Board,  or  to  the  Executive  Committee,  whenever  re- 
quired. He  shall  also  do  whatever  else  may  properly  belong  to  his  office  ;  and 
shall  give  his  bond  with  securities,  according  to  the  Constitution. 

§  4.  The  Board  shall  annually  appoint  from  their  own  number  an  Auditing 
Committee  of  two,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  examine  the  papers  and  vouchers 
of  the  Treasurer,  and  audit  his  account. 

§  5.  In  the  appointment  of  any  member  of  the  Faculty  a  nomination  shall 
be  made  at  least  four  weeks  before  the  election. 

§  6.  The  stated  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  shall  be  held  on  the  day  of  the 
anniversary  exercises  of  the  Seminary.     There  shall  also  be  a  stated  meeting 


12 

on  the  second  Wednesday  of  January,  March  and  November ;  the  last-named 
shall  be  for  the  election  of  Directors,  Honorary  Members,  Officers  of  the  Board 
and  Members  of  the  Executive  and  Finance  Committees  for  the  ensuing  year ; 
and  for  the  transaction  of  any  other  business. 

§  7.  A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  may  at  any  time  be  called  by  the  pre- 
siding officer  on  the  written  request  of  any  three  members,  or  by  the  Executive 
Committee. 

§  8.  Every  meeting  of  the  Board  shall  be  opened  and  closed  with  prayer. 

§  9.  The  Directors,  or  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Board  for  that  purpose, 
shall  attend  the  public  examination  of  the  classes  in  the  Seminary, 

§  10.  A  printed  copy  of  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  and  also  of  the 
General  Laws  of  the  Seminary,  shall  be  furnished  to  every  Director,  Professor, 
Teacher  and  Student. 

§  11.  All  nominations  of  new  members  for  the  Board  of  Directors  shall 
be  made  by  a  Committee  of  Nomination  ;  but  no  election  shall  be  had,  except 
by  unanimous  consent,  until  the  next  meeting  after  the  nomination,  and 
then,  at  the  request  of  any  member  of  the  Board,  the  vote  shall  be  taken  by 
ballot. 

§  12.  No  change  shall  be  made  in  these  By-Laws  of  the  Board,  nor  in  the 
General  Laws  of  the  Seminary,  either  by  addition,  alteration  or  repeal,  except 
by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  Directors  present. 


GENERAL  LAWS 

OF  THE 

SEMLNARY. 


CHAPTER   I. 

The  Faculty. 

§  1.  The  Faculty  shall  exercise  the  general  powers  and  fulfil  the  duties 
assigned  to  them  by  the  Constitution,  Art.  11.  They  shall  adopt  rules  for  the 
regular  admission  of  students  ;  prescribe  by  whom  and  to  what  extent  leave 
of  absence  may  be  granted ;  decide  on  all  applications  for  dismission  or  for 
other  objects ;  determine  cases  of  discipline,  and,  in  general,  execute  the  laws 
and  administer  all  the  internal  concerns  of  the  Seminary;  subject  always  to 
the  advice  and  control  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

§  2.  The  Faculty  shall  keep  watch  over  the  regular  and  punctual  attendance 
of  the  students  on  all  the  exercises  of  the  Seminary.  For  this  end  they  may 
appoint  monitors  in  the  several  classes  or  departments,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  mark  all  cases  of  absence  or  tardiness  in  the  students  at  every  regular 
exercise ;  keep  regular  bills  under  the  direction  of  the  Faculty,  and  report 


13 

the  same  whenever  required.  These  bills  shall  be  preserved  by  the  Faculty, 
and  submitted  to  the  Board  whenever  required, 

§  3.  Every  Professor  and  Instructor  shall  lay  before  the  Board,  whenever 
required,  a  syllabus  of  his  course  of  instruction  in  the  Seminary,  and  shall 
adopt  such  alterations  therein  as  the  Board  may  direct. 

§  4.  At  the  close  of  every  academic  year  each  Professor  shall  make  a  full 
report  in  writing  to  the  Board,  in  reference  to  his  own  department  during-  that 
year ;  and  the  Faculty  shall  also  make  a  joint  report  in  writing  on  the  state  of 
the  Seminary, 

CHAPTER    II. 

The  Students. 

§  1.  Every  applicant  for  admission  into  the  Seminary,  in  addition  to  the 
requisitions  of  the  Constitution,  shall  furnish  to  the  Faculty  satisfactory 
evidence  of  his  proficiency  in  science,  and  particularly  in  the  original  languages 
of  the  Scriptures;  *  and  of  his  object  in  pursuing  theological  studies. 

§  2.  No  person,  not  regularly  admitted  into  the  Seminary,  shall  be  allowed 
to  attend  the  lectures  of  the  Professors  in  the  Institution  for  more  than  one 
week,  without  permission  from  the  Faculty. 

§  3,  Strict  temperance,  neatness,  gentlemanly  and  Christian  deportment, 
sobriety  and  diligence,  are  expected  from  every  member  of  the  Seminary. 

§  4.  Every  student  shall  pursue  the  regular  course  of  study,  and  shall  pre- 
pare such  compositions  and  perform  such  other  exercises  as  shall  be  prescribed 
to  him  by  the  Faculty  or  by  his  several  instructors.  He  shall  receive  their 
advice  in  reference  to  his  studies,  and  submit  the  compositions  required  of 
him  to  their  inspection. 

§  5.  Every  student  shall  strictly  regard  the  hours  prescribed  by  the  Faculty 
for  study  and  for  the  exercises  of  the  Seminary ;  and  shall  regularly  and 
punctually  attend  all  such  exercises,  whether  public  or  private.  But  no 
student  shall  attend  the  instruction  of  any  person  not  a  teacher  in  the  Semi- 
nary, without  the  permission  of  the  Faculty. 

§  6.  The  students,  while  attending  upon  the  instructions  of  the  Seminary, 
are  expected  to  give  themselves  strictly  to  the  pursuit  of  theological  study. 
Nor  shall  any  student  engage  in  teaching,  or  in  any  occupation  other  than  his 
regular  studies,  during  term  time,  without  the  permission  of  the  Faculty, 
which  permission  shall  not  ordinarily  be  given  for  more  than  two  hours  in 
each  day. 

§  7.  In  ordinary  cases  no  student  shall  absent  himself  from  the  Seminary, 
or  from  any  exercises,  without  leave  obtained  beforehand.  And  if  a  student 
be  unavoidably  absent  without  such  leave,  he  shall  promptly  make  his  excuse, 
and  give  his  reasons  to  an  instructor.  All  cases  of  special  delinquency, 
whether  as  to  attendance  on  lectures  or  other  exercises,  punctuality  in  return- 
ing after  vacation,  or  diligence  and  proficiency  in  study,  shall  be  reported  to 
the  Faculty, 

§  8.  If  any  student  shall  be  absent  for  four  weeks  from  his  duties  in  the 

*  For  the  present  a  knowledge  of  Hebrew  is  not  required  for  admission. 


u 

Seminary  without  leave,  his  oonnection  with  the  Seminary  shall  cease,  unless 
he  render  satisfactory  reasons  to  the  Faculty. 

§  9.  All  the  students  shall  regularly  attend  the  public  examinations  of  their 
several  classes.  If  any  student  shall  be  absent  from  or  shall  not  satisfac- 
torily pass  any  such  examination,  in  order  to  retain  his  standing,  he  shall  be 
required  to  sustain  a  subsequent  examination  by  the  Faculty. 

§  10.  If  a  student  shall  be  guilty  of  any  immorality,  or  of  any  disrespect  or 
insult  to  an  officer  or  instructo*,  he  shall  be  suspended  or  cut  off  from  the 
Seminary  by  the  Faculty,  unless  he  make  reasonable  and  immediate  satisfac- 
tion for  his  offence.  If  a  student  shall  neglect  his  regular  studies,  or  be 
gnilty  of  indiscretion,  or  of  exhibiting  levity  or  indifference  in  regard  to  re- 
ligion ;  or  shall  violate  the  laws  of  the  Institution ;  he  shall  be  faithfully 
admonished  by  an  instructor  in  private,  or,  if  judged  expedient,  in  the 
presence  of  his  class,  or  before  the  Faculty.  And  if  any  student,  after  due 
admonition,  shall  continue  to  exhibit  unbecoming  deportment,  he  shall  be 
suspended  or  cut  off  from  the  Seminary,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Faculty. 

§  11.  Every  student  is  subject  to  a  charge  of  ten  dollars  a  year  for  the 
general  expenses  of  the  Seminary. 


CHAPTER  III. 

License  to  Preach,  etc. 

§  1.  No  student  shall  apply  to  any  ecclesiastical  body  for  license  to  preach 
before  the  month  of  February  in  his  Senior  year,  nor  receive  ordination  before 
the  expiration  of  his  regular  course  ;  except  in  cases  of  special  urgency,  to  be 
judged  of  by  the  Faculty. 

§  2.  Any  student  who  shall  preach  without  being  duly  licensed  shall,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Faculty,  be  subject  to  discipline,  and  be  reported  to  the 
ecclesiastical  body  to  which  he  is  amenable. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Resident  Licentiates  and  Minitrters. 

Persons  who  have  honorably  passed  a  regular  course  of  theological  study, 
and  received  license  or  ordination  to  preach,  may,  on  application  to  the  Fac- 
ulty, be  permitted  to  connect  themselves  with  the  Seminary  as  Residents; 
with  the  privilege  of  having  access  to  the  Library,  to  the  instructions  of  the 
teachers,  and  to  the  other  exercises  of  the  Seminary,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Faculty. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Devotional  Exercises. 

§  1 .  Every  student  is  expected  to  spend  a  portion  of  time  daily  in  medita- 
tion, in  reading  the  Scriptures  with  a  view  to  personal  edification,  and  in 
prayer. 


15 

g  2.  As  public  worship  on  the  Lord's  day  is  not  held  in  the  Seminary,  it  is 
enjoined  upon  the  students  each  to  worship  regularly  with  some  one  of  the 
evangelical  churches  of  New  York,  Brooklyn  or  the  vicinity,  and  to  remain 
under  its  spiritual  watch  and  care. 

§  3.  It  is  expected  of  every  student,  whose  voice  and  health  will  permit, 
that  he  will  cultivate  the  study  and  practice  of  sacred  music,  so  far  at  least 
as  to  be  able  to  take  part  in  performing  this  duty  of  public  devotion. 

§  4.  Every  lecture,  recitation  or  other  regular  exercises  in  the  Seminary 
shall  be  opened  with  prayer. 

§  5,  There  shall  be  daily  public  prayers  in  the  Seminary,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Faculty,  one  of  whom  shall  ordinarily  officiate,  and  all  the  students 
are  required  punctually  to  attend. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Anniversary  and  Examinations. 

§  1.  The  academic  year  shall  consist  of  a  single  term,  commencing  on  the 
second  Wednesday  of  September,  and  ending  on  the  Monday  before  the 
second  Thursday  of  May. 

§  2.  The  public  Anniversary  of  the  Seminary  shall  be  held  on  the  last  day 
of  the  term.  The  exercises  shall  consist  of  essays  and  orations  by  members 
of  the  Senior  class,  under  the  direction  of  the  Faculty.  But  nothing  shall  be 
delivered  by  any  student  which  has  not  been  previously  submitted  in  writing 
to  the  Faculty,  and  approved  by  them. 

§  3.  At  each  Anniversary  every  student  who  shall  have  satisfactorily  com- 
pleted the  regular  course  prescribed  in  the  Seminary,  and  have  been  approved 
by  the  Board  shall  receive  a  diploma  signed  by  the  Faculty,  the  President  of 
the  Board,  and  the  Recorder, 

§  4.  There  shall  be  in  each  year  a  public  examination  of  all  the  classes  com- 
mencing at  least  one  week  before  the  Anniversary  and  conducted  by  the 
Instructors,  in  the  presence  of  the  Faculty  and  the  Board  of  Directors,  or  a 
Committee  of  the  same. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Library. 

§  1.  A  Librarian  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  for  the  term 
of  two  years,  and  until  another  shall  be  chosen  in  his  place.  He  shall  have 
charge  of  the  Library  ;  be  responsible  for  its  management  and  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  books  according  to  the  laws ;  and  shall  be  allowed  by  the 
Board  a  reasonable  compensation  for  his  services. 

§  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Librarian  to  be  present  when  the  Library  is 
open ;  to  keep  an  alphabetical  catalogue  of  all  the  books  belonging  to  it,  in 
which  the  title,  size,  place  and  number  of  copies  and  volumes  of  every  author 
shall  be  noted  ;  to  keep  a  book  of  donations  in  which  shall  be  entered  the 
names  of  all  books  presented  to  the  Library,  the  time  when  and  the  persons 
by  whom  they  were  presented  ;  to  keep  the  Library  in  good  order,  properly 


16 

swept,  aired  and  dusted ;  to  keep  a  complete  record  of  all  books  taken  from 
and  returned  to  the  Library,  the  time  when,  and  the  persons  by  whom. 

§  3.  The  Librarian  may  appoint  a  substitute,  who  shall  in  the  absence  of  the 
Librarian  perform  his  duty. 

§  4.  The  Faculty  shall  designate  those  books  which  in  their  opinion  are  of 
such  a  nature  or  value  that  they  ought  not  to  be  taken  from  the  Library,  and 
none  of  these  shall  be  loaned  except  by  the  special  order  of  a  member  of  the 
Faculty. 

§  5.  The  Directors,  Honorary  Members,  Faculty,  Instructors  and  Students 
shall  alone  be  entitled  ordinarily  to  take  out  books  from  the  Library.  But  in 
special  cases  the  Librarian  may  loan  books  to  other  persons,  on  the  written 
order  of  a  member  of  the  Faculty  specifying  the  particular  books. 

§6.  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  Students  of  Theology,  and  other  persons  of 
professional  or  literary  standing,  introduced  by  a  Director  or  a  member  of  the 
Faculty,  may  avail  themselves  of  the  privileges  of  the  Library,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Librarian. 

§  7.  No  conversation  can  be  permitted  in  the  Library  during  Library  hours, 
except  such  as  may  be  necessary  with  the  Librarian  ;  and  that  only  in  an  under- 
tone. And  no  persons,  except  the  Faculty  and  Directors,  may  take  down  or 
put  up  any  book  without  the  permission  of  the  Librarian. 

§  8.  Persons  authorized  to  take  out  books,  shall,  in  no  case  whatever,  lend 
any  book  or  books  borrowed  from  the  Library  to  any  other  persons. 

§  9.  For  all  books  injured,  defaced  or  lost  the  borrower  shall  be  responsible, 
and  shall  make  reasonable  compensation,  to  be  determined  by  the  Librarian. 

§  10.  The  Library,  during  term  time,  shall  be  open  for  the  reception  and 
delivery  of  books  twice  every  week,  and  for  consultation  every  week-day,  Sat- 
urday excepted,  at  such  hours  as  the  Faculty  may  direct. 

§  11.  No  student  shall  ordinarily  have  at  one  time  more  than  three  volumes 
from  the  Library,  nor  retain  any  book  longer  than  one  month.  But  element- 
ary or  classical  books,  which  may  be  necessary  to  a  student  for  his  course  of 
study  he  may  obtain  on  the  written  order  of  a  member  of  the  Faculty.  The 
Librarian  may  require  that  any  book  shall  be  covered  by  the  person  bor- 
rowing it. 

§  12.  The  Directors  and  members  of  the  Faculty  shall  have  access  to  the 
Library  at  all  times ;  and  the  Librarian,  at  the  request  of  any  one  of  them , 
shall  require  any  book  in  the  hands  of  a  student  to  be  returned  immediately 
to  the  Library. 

§13.  At  the  close  of  each  academic  year,  all  books,  by  whomsoever  bor- 
rowed, shall  be  punctually  returned  ;  and  the  Library  shall  be  carefully 
inspected  by  a  committee  of  the  Board  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

§  14.  If  any  person  or  persons,  or  any  society,  church  or  congregation,  shall 
present  to  the  Library  books  sufficient  to  fill  one  case ;  or  shall  place  at  the 
disposal  of  the  Library  Committee  for  a  like  purpose  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
dollars  or  more  ;  then  the  Librarian  shall  cause  the  name  of  the  donor  or  donors 
to  be  engraved  on  a  smtable  plate,  and  the  same  to  be  permanently  placed 
upon  one  of  the  cases. 

§  15.  The  Faculty  shall  have  power  to  make  any  further  rules  for  the  regu- 
lations of  the  Library  not  inconsistent  with  these  laws. 


17 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Rooms  for  Students. 

§  1.  An  assignment  of  rooms  shall  take  place  near  the  close  of  each  academic 
year,  and  shall  be  made  in  such  manner  as  the  Faculty  may  direct. 

§  2.  In  this  assignment  the  higher  class  shall  have  the  priority  in  the  choice 
of  rooms ;  provided,  however,  that  any  student  may,  with  permission  of  the 
Faculty,  retain  the  room  already  occupied  by  him. 

§3.  An  assignment  of  rooms  to  the  Junior  class  shall  be  made  within  one 
week  from  the  commencement  of  the  term,  and  in  such  manner  as  the  Faculty 
may  direct. 

§  4,  No  student  or  other  person  shall  in  any  way  have  or  acquire  a  right  or 
claim  to  any  room  or  part  thereof,  belonging  to  the  Seminary,  except  through 
the  Faculty.  Nor  shall  any  student  retain,  his  right  or  claim  to  a  room  any 
longer  than  he  continues  to  occupy  it  personally. 

§5.  No  student  shall  exchange  his  room  for  another  without  permission 
from  the  Faculty. 

§  6.  Rooms  vacated,  during  the  academic  year,  may  be  assigned  to  students 
by  the  Faculty,  regard  being  had  to  the  class-standing  of  the  applicants. 

§  7.  Every  room,  the  occupant  of  which  is  not  present  at  the  opening  of  the 
academic  year,  shall  be  regarded  as  vacant  after  ten  days  ;  unless  the  said  occu- 
pant previously  give  to  the  Faculty  sufficient  reasons  for  his  absence.  But  in 
no  case  shall  a  room  be  thus  reserved  longer  than  four  weeks,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  Faculty. 

§  8.  If  any  student  shall  absent  himself  from  the  Seminary  without  permis- 
sion from  the  Faculty,  his  room  shall  be  regarded  as  vacant  at  the  expiration 
of  one  week  ;  and  any  student  absent  with  leave  shall  have  no  claim  to  his 
room  after  four  weeks ;  nor,  whenever  the  Board  are  paying  rent  for  rooms  out 
of  the  Seminary,  shall  any  student,  absent  with  leave,  have  a  claim  to  his  room 
after  one  week. 

§  9.  No  student  shall  make  any  fixture  in  his  room  except  with  leave  of  the 
Faculty ;  and  any  fixture  thus  permitted,  or  in  any  way  made,  shall  thereafter 
belong  to  the  room. 

§  10.  Every  student  shall  be  responsible  for  any  injury  done  to  his  room  or 
to  the  furniture  thereof. 

§  11.  It  is  expected  that  all  students  who  are  able  to  provide  rooms  for 
themselves  will  not  apply  for  rooms  in  the  Seminary. 


